In my line of labor, I’m ceaselessly requested concerning the life expectancy of TVs. I often reply by saying that almost all TVs final between 6 to 10 years, and whereas I’ve seen unlucky instances of TVs prematurely kicking the bucket, I’ve seen simply as many instances the place a set outlives a decade.
Nothing is for certain — a TV’s {hardware} can fail immediately for causes outdoors of your management. However there are a handful of fundamental steps you may take to extend the chances that your TV will dwell a wholesome, long-lasting life.
1. Decrease the backlight when doable
(Picture credit score: Shutterstock/AlexandrBognat)
For those who’re an avid Tom’s Information reader, you in all probability know that myself and the remainder of the TV-testing workforce disable eco mode on TVs earlier than we consider the image. That is so we will get an correct have a look at how the TV performs at its finest, and these energy-saving settings dramatically restrict a TV’s brightness.
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For me, it doesn’t cease there. As an image purist and movie fanatic, I maintain these power-saving settings disabled at house, too. Frankly, I simply don’t need my TV deciding how vibrant it needs to be based mostly on ambient lighting circumstances.
That mentioned, I don’t maintain my TV at its absolute brightest on a regular basis. Actually, I throttle its brightness repeatedly, simply to maintain the panel from working at peak capability 100% of the time.
You’ll be doing all of your TV a small favor by letting it ease off the gasoline pedal every now and then.
For OLED TVs, this setting will probably be known as one thing like “OLED Pixel Brightness” and/or “Peak Brightness.”
For LED TVs, the setting is extra more likely to consult with the TV’s backlight, however “Peak Brightness” can be a standard secondary brightness setting on newer LED TVs.
I don’t are likely to take these additional steps when watching HDR content material — particularly cinematic HDR content material. This enhanced format is designed to take full benefit of a more moderen show, and having spent good cash on an HDR-capable TV, I’m inclined to let it do its factor.
This measure received’t make for a failure-proof TV, but it surely actually can’t harm.
2. Set up advisable software program updates
(Picture credit score: Samsung)
Some TV homeowners are hesitant to put in the occasional advisable firmware updates when prompted, and for many of those of us, the reasoning is easy: They don’t need their getting old TV software program to doubtlessly decelerate much more.
Whereas I perceive this method in concept, most individuals can be higher off updating their TV software program at any time when the model pushes out a firmware replace.
Amongst different issues, these updates usually repair large safety flaws. This course of is essential if you wish to maintain your knowledge protected.
And whereas these updates might make an older TV extra sluggish, manufacturers have gotten higher lately at making certain that these updates don’t disrupt the efficiency of older fashions which are receiving them.
In any occasion, these updates might doubtlessly repair efficiency points that might in any other case rear their head if left unchecked.
3. Clear it once in a while
(Picture credit score: Future)
If the again of your TV’s panel is getting dusty (and I can just about assure you that it’s), think about doing a little gentle dusting, notably round areas of the chassis the place the {hardware} ventilates.
I’ve written extensively about tips on how to clear a TV display, however in case you want the essential gist, right here goes: By no means use a chemical agent (like glass cleaner) and stick with a dry, microfiber towel.
I like to recommend cleansing the display as soon as each few weeks to be able to maintain it spotless. An added advantage of this cleansing course of is that it would make a dimmer image extra palatable, thus permitting you to tamp down the brightness.
4. Use a surge protector
(Picture credit score: Belkin)
Surge protectors act as one thing of a mediator between your prized electronics and the outlet on the wall.
Within the occasion of a lightning strike, the jolt related to an influence outage, or any variety of elements that may trigger a sudden surge in energy; a surge protector shields your units from the sudden shock. You should have your TV linked to a surge protector, whether or not it prices $200 or $2,000.
If you end up available in the market for one, we have already executed a number of the heavy lifting with our round-up of the very best surge protectors you should buy. Proper now, our high decide is the Anker 351 Energy Strip, because it gives loads of shops (and even some USB ports) along with its fundamental performance.
5. When you’ve got an OLED, use its upkeep settings
(Picture credit score: Future)
You have in all probability heard of OLED burn-in earlier than, however simply in case you have not, I will catch you in control.
Burn-in describes the ghostly picture of beforehand seen content material, now embedded throughout the show after many hours of use. Because of the natural nature of OLED shows, they’re notably inclined to burn-in — or not less than they have been.
All main OLED-makers provide built-in instruments to guard the panel from this phenomenon. Considered one of these instruments is a pixel-shifting function that often (and subtly) strikes the image, making certain that every pixel is switching issues up every now and then.
There’s additionally a software known as Pixel Refresh or Pixel Cleansing, relying on the model of OLED. This course of provides each pixel a little bit of a facelift by adjusting the luminance of pixels relying on whether or not or not an unevenness is detected. It might doubtlessly stamp out retained photographs earlier than they stick round for good. Usually, you will discover it throughout the TV’s devoted OLED care submenu.
I’d not manually run these pixel-cleaning options with any regularity, nevertheless. They are often aggressive over time, and there’s an excellent likelihood your OLED TV is already working a lighter, preventative model of the function routinely when it’s off.
My advice? Set it to run routinely when the TV is not in use and overlook about it.
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